Raised in a home with strong Latin roots, Dotti Montijo appreciated the music of Spanish giants like Afro-Cuban icon, Celia Cruz. Some of her biggest influences, however, were from a different culture.
Montijo has always loved reggae, and is drawn to the songs of Beres Hammond, Tessanne Chin and Third World. Recently, she made her recording debut with So Good, a lovers rock ballad produced by Richard Grant for Upstairs Music and Poorman Production.
The song is written by veteran Jamaican singer Shauna Dazzle, who pitched the song to Montijo.
“When she asked me if I would be interested in the song, I said yes. I believe everyone wants the kind of love that So Good talks about,” she said.
The Miami-born singer says music was a constant in her family which is a mix of Puerto Rican and Cuban. Her mother, Melba Diaz, was an artist in the mould of Cruz who performed throughout Miami.
“My mom was a singer and she used to take me to her rehearsals when I was little. I would try to take the microphone from her, chorus in school was my training,’ she recalled.
Those impromptu sessions whetted Montijo’s appetite for a music career. Although pointing to Whitney Houston and her mother as main influences, reggae is never far away.
“I love, love Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica, Tessanne Chin, Third World, Dennis Brown, Bob Marley, Marcia Griffiths. So many amazing artistes,” she said.
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